Friday, August 11, 2017

Interior Modernization Project, Part 13. Where Should the Stitching Go + Where is the Alcantara?

Decisions, decisions.

Once we had decided to go with 3mm for the stitching length, the next step would be to figure out how and where the "french stitches" would be placed. Because the leading edges are angular, Cesar recommended placement 3mm from the edge.

To show me what 3mm from the edge looked like, he sent these photos.

Left of the main gauges, but to the right of the HVAC controls

Leading edge to the left of the main gauges

Leading edge of the lip above the main gauges

Lower left side of the central dashboard, to the left of where the stereo and ashtray sits

He also sent me a preview of the video he was going to post next, Part IV, showing how he tested the leather we decided on, the Wildman & Bugby Cardinal hide. I've already posted the video in an earlier post, here.

Meanwhile, the package of Alcantara cloth I had ordered and sent directly to him, appeared to be lost in the mail....

Incidentally, while researching Alcantara, I learned that it's really an artificial type of suede, very similar to another synthetic suede called Ultrasuede, originally invented in Japan at Toray Industries, a large corporation specializing in industrial products centered on synthetic organic and polymer chemistry. In fact, the difference mainly being WHO makes the products, Alcantara being made in Italy by Alcantara S.p.A. (70% owned by Toray...) and Ultrasuede in Japan...